Black colleges have own form of diversity

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution ^ | May 12, 2003 | BENJAMIN C. JONES

[where's_the_Outrage?]

While engaged in an intellectual discourse with one of my closest confidantes, I recently heard the distressing phrase, "Black colleges do not prepare their students for the real world . . . the world isn't all black."

Because this came from a person who attends a majority-white, public institution and who is not acutely aware of the black college environment, I did not immediately react. I pondered the question: Does my institution, Morehouse College, a four-year historically black liberal arts college for men in Atlanta, actually prepare its students for the real world?

In an academic world of public and private institutions, liberal arts colleges, coed universities, all-male and all-female colleges, and technical universities, students are presumably being prepared and offered a glimpse into the real world through their school.

For many, this notion of the world is an environment where people of different races interact daily. I was saddened to hear my friend's opinion that students whose campuses are not racially mixed are not exposed to the real world.

I began to share with my friend what diversity means to me: being around people with varying viewpoints and values.

This is prevalent at my school. Even though 97 percent of the student body is African-American, we are a diverse and eclectic group of people who come from different parts of the country and the world. We all hold unique and extraordinary experiences.

After explaining this position to my friend, I admitted that before I chose Morehouse College, ranked No. 1 in Black Enterprise Magazine's Top 50 Colleges for African-American students, I was actually concerned whether a predominantly African-American college would prepare me to face the world. But then I began to understand what preparation for the real world meant: being adaptable, proactive, goal-oriented and professional. All these characteristics are fostered at my school.

Each college or university is a unique microcosm of the world that offers students the opportunity to study in an environment that breeds diversity regardless of age, gender, social status or race.

[where's_the_Outrage?]

But then I began to understand what preparation for the real world meant: being adaptable, proactive, goal-oriented and professional.

If this is what Ben is taught, welcome to the world. However, I can't help putting Ben in the same catagory as my kid (now a college Junior), that he is just barely admitting once in a while he may have misjudged me or my actions.

I remember the hate filled eyes looking at me when I told him the liberal arts major and minor he planned to persue would qualify him to work at McDonald's.

[madprof98]

I began to share with my friend what diversity means to me: being around people with varying viewpoints and values. This is prevalent at my school.

Absolute nonsense. I spent most of my teaching career at a predominately black college near Morehouse, and I often taught Morehouse men. A more homogeneous group was never to be found. But I suspect the same is true at most colleges. Kids imagine they are being liberated from their families to pursue some sort of ideal truth when in reality even their little rebellions are exactly what might be expected of someone from their race/class/community.

[Republic If You Can Keep It]

I began to share with my friend what diversity means to me: being around people with varying viewpoints and values.

Then I assume there are plenty of Republicans, plenty of anti-NAACP students, & plenty of anti-Affirmative Action students in the mix.

[jrushing]

I recently heard the distressing phrase, "Black colleges do not prepare their students for the real world . . . the world isn't all black."

I think that this person is refering to "diversity" of thought.

Even though 97 percent of the student body is African-American, we are a diverse and eclectic group of people who come from different parts of the country and the world. We all hold unique and extraordinary experiences.

Unique experiences does not ensure diversity of thought. Lemmings can come from different places but without a different idea, they will all jump together.

[RLK]

To the extent he has a brain at all, this kid is brainwashed.

[visualops]

Kids imagine they are being liberated from their families to pursue some sort of ideal truth when in reality even their little rebellions are exactly what might be expected of someone from their race/class/community and level of experience/maturity

And so it has been thru the ages..

[Temple Drake]

"I was saddened to hear my friend's opinion that students whose campuses are not racially mixed are not exposed to the real world. " Yeah? How about proms that are not racially mixed? Clubs? Oh, wait -- these things are ok ONLY if you are not white .... yeah, I forgot that part.

[Cicero]

I have had occasion to meet professors and students from Morehouse, and to look at the records of Morehouse students applying to graduate school. That's admittedly a very oblique view of the place. But my impression is that blacks get an excellent education there, in part because no one feels the need to treat them as special, as victims, as people who must be given good grades no matter how badly they do. You can't always believe the grades given to a black student at a predominantly white college, but you can believe the grades at Morehouse. That's my impression.

[meenie]

The only problem with this article, is the black students think this is unique to them. Those little white students have this problem also when going out into the big wide world on their own. There is not a school in the country that prepares for this event. They can give you the tools, but it is up to you to determine how to use them.

[TankerKC]

Even though 97 percent of the student body is African-American, we are a diverse and eclectic group of people who come from different parts of the country and the world. We all hold unique and extraordinary experiences.

If this can be true....then can this true:

Even though 97 percent of the student body is white, we are a diverse and eclectic group of people who come from different parts of the country and the world. We all hold unique and extraordinary experiences.

[mhking]

Most students at historically black schools are ill prepared for "the real world" outside their hallowed halls. Those that are, have had experiences within the mainstream.

This letter sounds like someone who is still wearing his rose-colored glasses.

"Hold muh beer 'n watch this!" PING....

If you want on or off this list, please let me know!

[TomServo]

Even though 97 percent of the student body is white, we are a diverse and eclectic group of people who come from different parts of the country and the world. We all hold unique and extraordinary experiences.

Heh-heh. Touche'.

[freedumb2003]

>>. A more homogeneous group was never to be found. But I suspect the same is true at most colleges<<

It is true. I went to a small, rich kid liberal arts school and everyone was pretty much the same -- they all looked like Greg Marmilard, even the women. Even the blacks were white. They were in real life just like those great Eddie Murphy and Richard Pryor imitations of white guys.

I was a scholarship exception ot the rich kid thing. I wouldn't trade a minute of my college days, but "diversity" was not part of my college curriculum.

On the other hand, big deal. I get along just fine in the real world since I had to overcome so many obstacles BEFORE I got to college.

[clockwork]

Unfortunately, I already read this piece of BS today in the Atlanta Journal...twice is too much.

[Godel]

Even though 97 percent of the student body is African-American, we are a diverse and eclectic group of people who come from different parts of the country and the world. We all hold unique and extraordinary experiences.

Im just curious, according to the author, an all black school is plenty diverse and a great place for an education? Why is it that mostly-white schools are considered so horribly undiverse that we need to use mandated systematic racial discrimination in order to get less whites? Is the author implying that blacks are superior to whites and that an all black school is fine, but an all white school isn't?

[Khepera]

An all black college? Thats outragious! Where is Bill O'Rielly?

[thoughtomator]

"Diverse" = less white and Asian than the population average.

I challenge anyone to come up with a use of the word by the Left that contradicts this definition.

I wonder when I will start having to sit at the back of the bus?

[Consort]

Wouldn't the term "Selective Diversity" more accurately describe what is being practiced in academia?

[farmfriend]

Boy am I glad that I am on both lists. That way I get the news one way or another. Did you really mean to hold muh beer on this black college post?

[mhking]

Nope - screwed up again. I've got so much crap all over my desk (I'm trying to get it all packed up - I'm closing on the house day after tomorrow); and not enough boxes to cram it all in...[sigh]